SUNDERLAND are still prepared to sign gunshot victim Salvador Cabanas – if he makes a miracle recovery.

The Paraguayan striker’s agent says Cabanas, who plays for Mexican side Club America, was on the brink of joining the Black Cats on loan last month with a view to a £6m permanent deal before he was shot in the head in a bar in Mexico City.

Cabanas is making a slow recovery in hospital but his football career hangs in the balance.

Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is a long-time admirer of the Club America frontman, having tried to take him to Wigan last season before taking over on Wearside.

And Cabanas’ representative Ruben Caicedo claims Bruce has not ruled out resurrecting a move for the 29-year-old if he is able to continue playing.

“We had arranged everything – the offer was on Club America’s table, the salary of the player was arranged, he had to have a medical and all we were waiting for was for America to find a replacement for Salvador,” said Colombian businessman Caicedo.

“But unfortunately the accident happened at that time and the deal could not happen.

“However, I talked to the coach (Bruce) and told me that if there is a miracle and Salvador recovers, he is a player he will always want to have in their ranks.”

Caicedo says Bruce was willing to pay £9m to sign Cabanas in 2008, but at that stage Club America were not interested in selling.

Cabanas signed a new contract which included a get-out clause if they failed to win the end of season play-offs, and was ready to exercise that option after they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage.

Caicedo said: “The player put in some clauses in 2008 in which he asked to be transferred to another club if America were not champions in the previous tournament.

“He made use of this clause and that’s why the bid.”

Cabanas was due to join Sunderland on January 31, but was attacked while out with his wife and brother-in-law on January 25.

Cabanas has yet to have the bullet removed from his skull, but nevertheless neurosurgeon Ernesto Martinez is pleased with his progress.

He said: “We’ve had significant progress, not only in his state of alertness.

“His language is also a little more fluid and he is eating well.

“His movement has improved on both sides. He has better strength and coordination and his face looks a lot better.”

Cabanas is an international team-mate of Sunderland defender Paulo Da Silva and was expected to star for his country in this summer’s World Cup in South Africa.